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Getting the commodities mix just right

While commodities are a controversial and problematic asset class to some investors, for others they are an ideal diversifier looking more attractive than ever. A mini-revival in commodity investing among US pension funds suggests the asset class may be enjoying a resurgence. The Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension System, Municipal Retirement System of Michigan […]
Dan BillinghamJuly 10, 2013
Uncategorised posts

Building consensus for investment beliefs at CalPERS

An investment-beliefs workshop for the CalPERS board, held in April, revealed five areas, including active management, where the views of the board and staff lacked consensus. The contentious, or unsettled, topics for discussion were active management, private asset classes, sustainability (environmental, social and governance), investment performance targets and stakeholder considerations. At the board workshop, Janine […]
Amanda WhiteMay 10, 2013
Opinion

The smoking gun at CalSTRS

For a pension fund that describes itself as “ponderous”, the $154-billion California State Teachers’ Retirement System, CalSTRS, has moved uncharacteristically swiftly in recent months. The second largest public pension fund in the United States, the plan for teachers and faculty is in the process of divesting its holdings in gun manufacturers following the massacre at […]
Sarah RundellMarch 6, 2013
Editorial

Hedging your bets? Back innovation for wealth creation

In 2012 there were 31 hedge fund managers on the Forbes 400 list, representing about 8 per cent of the wealthiest people in the US, up from 6 per cent the year before. Wealthy people on the whole don’t interest me, but innovation does. And the creation of wealth, and the creation of jobs and […]
Amanda WhiteFebruary 1, 2013
Uncategorised posts

In-house not for
every house: WSIB

While the trend for most large institutional investors is to insource asset management, the $85-billion Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) has decided to take a different path. Much-cited CEM Benchmarking research shows that funds with internal-management platforms are better performers after cost, and this is largely driven by the lower costs of internal management. Many […]
Amanda WhiteSeptember 14, 2012
Uncategorised posts

Collaboration keep deals on tap

As British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCIMC) moves towards its target of having 30 per cent of its portfolio exposed to real assets, it is seeking collaborative opportunities with similar large institutional investors. The investment manager is on the lookout for other like-minded investors and has already made significant co-investments in recent years. This year […]
SAM RILEYSeptember 5, 2012
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